Keto Cheeseburger Casserole Recipe
Enjoy the classic taste of a bacon cheeseburger in a cozy low carb bake. Ground beef, savory bacon, and tangy pickles are baked under a rich, golden egg and cheddar topping.
Equipment
- Casserole Dish
- Skillet
Ingredients
Ground Beef Layer
- 1 onion (quartered and sliced)
- 1 clove garlic minced (crushed)
- 750 g ground/minced beef
- 60 g cream cheese (full fat)
- 3 slices bacon (diced)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Cheats Cheese Sauce
- 3 eggs - medium
- 125 ml heavy whipping cream
- 100 g shredded/grated cheese
- 2 tbsp mustard
- 2 dill gherkin pickles (sliced)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 50 g shredded/grated cheese (to sprinkle over)
Instructions
Ground Beef Layer
- Cook the diced bacon in a skillet until it is browned and fully cooked, then lift it out and set it aside. The pieces should look crisp around the edges and leave flavorful bacon fat behind in the pan.
- Add the sliced onion, crushed garlic, and ground/minced beef to the skillet and cook until the beef is thoroughly done, then season with salt and pepper and stir in the cream cheese. The onions should soften, the garlic should smell savory, and the cream cheese should melt through the meat instead of sitting in lumps.
- Drain off the excess grease, then spread the beef mixture in a casserole dish and scatter the cooked bacon over the top. The meat layer should look moist but not oily, which helps the finished bake stay thick rather than watery.
Cheats Cheese Sauce
- Whisk together the eggs, heavy whipping cream, 100 g shredded/grated cheese, mustard, salt, and pepper, then pour the mixture over the beef and bacon. The sauce should look smooth, loose, and evenly speckled with cheese, like a pourable savory custard.
- Arrange the sliced dill gherkin pickles across the top and finish with the remaining 50 g shredded/grated cheese. The pickles should sit evenly over the surface so each serving gets a little tangy bite.
- Bake at 180C/350F for 15 minutes, then serve with salad and 1-minute mayonnaise. When it is ready, the cheddar on top will be bubbling and golden with crisp spots around the edges.
Notes
Watery casserole prevention: Drain excess grease from the cooked ground beef and blot pickle slices dry before layering them on top to keep the bake thick. Ingredient handling: Let the cream cheese soften before stirring it into the beef to prevent white lumps in the meat layer. Browning tip: Grate cheddar fresh from a block instead of using pre-shredded bagged cheese, which contains anti-caking agents that hinder smooth melting. Freezing: Freeze only the cooked beef and bacon base. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator, then pour the fresh egg-and-cream mixture on top before placing in the oven. Nutrition information is an estimate based on common ingredients and serving sizes. Values may vary depending on brands, portions, and substitutions.